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Barry Manilow Announces Final Concerts In North America Before Lifetime Residency In Las Vegas

Following his previous critically acclaimed arena shows Barry Manilow, the undisputed #1 Adult Contemporary Artist of all time, is back by popular demand for one last run of dates before his lifetime residency in Las Vegas.

Tickets on sale starting Friday, December 20, 2024, at 10 a.m. local time – click here to purchase.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to visit these great cities of which I have so many fond memories,” said Manilow. “Each one is special to my touring history.”

Manilow, a GRAMMY, TONY, and EMMY Award-winning music icon whose success is a benchmark in popular music, will bring his high-energy, hit-packed concert to the following select cities for one last show.

‘MANILOW’ 2025 NEW TOUR DATES
5/23/25            Pittsburgh, PA                             PPG Paints Arena
5/24/25            Philadelphia, PA                         Wells Fargo Center
5/27/25            Providence, RI                             Amica Mutual Pavilion
5/28/25            Boston, MA                                  TD Garden
5/30/25            Montreal, QC                             Bell Centre
5/31/25            Toronto, ON                               Scotiabank Arena
6/3/25               Detroit, MI                                    Little Caesars Arena
6/4/25               Grand Rapids, MI                       Van Andel Arena
6/5/25               Cleveland, OH                             Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse

SoundCloud Just Made It Easier (and Cheaper) For Artists to Level Up Their Game

Money is tight for most musicians—whether you’re saving up for gear, studio time, or just trying to keep the lights on—and SoundCloud gets it. They’ve introduced a new, super-affordable subscription tier called Artist that’s designed to bridge the gap between their free Basic plan and their premium Artist Pro plan.

Here’s the kicker: it’s only $3.25 per month (or $39 per year).

SoundCloud piloted the Artist plan in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, where it delivered promising results. Now, it’s gone global.

For less than a cup of coffee a month, musicians can access tools that make getting your music heard easier than ever. Here’s the breakdown:

  • Unlimited Uploads (With a 3-Hour Content Cap): You can upload as many tracks as you want, so long as the total adds up to three hours.
  • Distribute Your Music: Get your tracks out there! You can distribute 2 tracks per month to platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, TikTok, and 60+ others.
  • Monetize Your Music: Get 100% of the royalties from your plays on SoundCloud and start earning from streams on other platforms.
  • Promotion & Playlisting: SoundCloud’s algorithm works to push your music to up to 1,000 listeners who are most likely to dig your sound. If a track performs well, it could land on fan-powered playlists like Buzzing to get you in front of more fans, A&Rs, and industry eyes.
  • Master Your Tracks: You’ll get one professional mastering credit every month to give your music that polished, release-ready sound.
  • Track Swapping: Got a better version of your track? Swap it out—up to 3 times a month—without losing any of your hard-earned plays, likes, or comments.

While Artist Pro (formerly Next Pro) offers more robust features like unlimited uploads and unlimited distribution, the new Artist plan is a great middle ground for emerging musicians who want to get their tracks out there without breaking the bank.

“At SoundCloud, we believe great music can come from anywhere, and it shouldn’t be held back by cost or complexity,” said Eliah Seton, CEO of SoundCloud. “That’s why we created the Artist plan—to provide emerging musicians with pro-level tools and distribution at an affordable price. As the only creator platform in music that directly connects artists with fans, we’re making it even easier for artists to get heard. Whether you’re just starting out or taking the next step, SoundCloud is here to help artists reach their full potential and connect with fans ready to listen.”

If you’re an artist trying to get your music heard, SoundCloud’s Artist plan offers some serious value for just $3.25 a month. Affordable, effective, and built for emerging musicians—it’s a step in the right direction for anyone looking to grow their audience.

So, grab your tracks, get them polished, and let SoundCloud do the rest.

My Next Read: “Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music” by Rob Sheffield

An intimate look at the life and music of modern pop’s most legendary figure, Taylor Swift, from leading music journalist Rob Sheffield.

A cultural phenomenon. A worldwide obsession. An agent of emotional chaos. There’s no parallel to Taylor Swift in history: a teenage girl who turns into the world’s favorite pop star, songwriter, storyteller, guitar hero, live performer, changing how music is made and heard. An all-time great on the level of The Beatles, Prince, or David Bowie.

Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music is the first book that goes deep on the musical and cultural impact of Taylor Swift. Nobody can tell the story like Rob Sheffield, the bestselling and award-winning author of Dreaming the Beatles, On Bowie, and Love Is a Mix Tape. The legendary Rolling Stone journalist is the writer who has chronicled Taylor for every step of her long career, from her early days to the Eras Tour. Sheffield gets right to the heart of Swift and her music, her lyrics, her fan connection, her raw power.

At once one of the most beloved music figures of the past two decades and one of the most criticized, Taylor Swift is known as much for her life beyond her music as she is for her hits—the most public of stars, yet also the weirdest and most mysterious. In the tradition of Sheffield’s Dreaming the Beatles, Heartbreak Is the National Anthem will inform and delight a legion of fans who hang on every word from Taylor and every word Rob writes on her.

Batman vs. Gilligan’s Island…on Family Feud. Bonus: Vincent Price

This sums up our Generation perfectly. The cast of Batman and the cast of Gilligan’s Island on Family Feud in 1983

Video: The Two Stevies: Stevie Wonder and Stevie Ray Vaughan Performing “Superstition” Together In 1988

,,,and if THAT wasn’t enough, Jody Watley, Salt-N-Pepa, and BrownMark, Prince’s bassist are in the band.

My Next Read: “I Was There: Dispatches from a Life in Rock and Roll” By Alan Edwards

Alan Edwards, the godfather of British music PR, has worked with some of the most legendary artists of our time, from David Bowie to the Spice Girls via the Rolling Stones, the Stranglers, Prince and Amy Winehouse.

In I Was There, he describes getting his break in the mid-’70s as a scruffy, stoned 20-year-old just back from the hippie trail; his encounter with London’s thriving punk scene, which inspired him to set up his own PR company; broadening his horizons as his work with the likes of Blondie takes him to the US and beyond; and his move into the world of pop with the Spice Girls during the tabloid-crazed ’90s.

At the centre of this story sits the defining relationship of Edwards’ career: his close, thirty-year collaboration with David Bowie. He guides us through a series of vivid, funny, always insightful behind-the-scenes reports, whether he’s playing a spontaneous game of football with Bob Marley, listening to Prince discuss the future of civilisation in a nightclub VIP area, or being used as a pawn in the power struggle between Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

Above all, we’re treated to Edwards’ fascinating observations about the brilliant artists he has worked with and what makes them tick, as he looks back on his role in the last five decades of music and culture.

My Next Read: “Infinite Dreams – The Life of Alan Vega” By Laura Davis-Chanin and Liz Lamere

Best known for co-founding the early punk duo Suicide, Alan Vega lived a complex and labyrinthine life, driven by a desire to express himself uncompromisingly through art. From his first sketch in art class at Brooklyn College to the 2021 release of the album Mutator five years after his death, Vega continues to shock and inspire. This first-ever biography of Vega tells the story of the man’s life and art, beginning with his early attempts to live a “normal” life and his epiphanic encounter with Iggy Pop in 1969. Although becoming a performer on stage had been at the bottom of Vega’s list of lifetime ambitions, Iggy changed his mind: he needed music to truly express his vision. Infinite Dreams goes on to describe Vega’s many experiments across a variety of media, including the partnership with Marty Rev that became Suicide, which challenged audiences to look deep inside themselves and to not settle for distractions. A raw but engaging exploration of a man whose artwork, music, and philosophy inspired thousands, written by award-winning author Laura Davis-Chanin together with Liz Lamere, Alan Vega’s wife and long-term creative collaborator.

SWV Brings Iconic ’90s R&B to NPR’s Tiny Desk

Credit: Photo: Estefania Mitre

SWV graced the Tiny Desk with soulful harmonies and timeless hits, reminding us why they’re among the greatest girl groups in history. From “I’m So Into You” to “Weak,” their performance celebrated decades of influence, style, and connection.

The Wiz Cast Brings Broadway Magic to NPR’s Tiny Desk

Cast members of The Whiz perform a Tiny Desk concert June 24 2024, at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The cast of The Wiz revival dazzles with stripped-down renditions of Broadway classics, showcasing their raw talent and heartfelt storytelling. From Alan Mingo Jr.’s commanding presence to Nichelle Lewis’ emotional finale, the performances celebrate the enduring magic of The Wiz.

My Next Read: “They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us” by Hanif Abdurraqib

In an age of confusion, fear, and loss, Hanif Abdurraqib’s is a voice that matters. Whether he’s attending a Bruce Springsteen concert the day after visiting Michael Brown’s grave, or discussing public displays of affection at a Carly Rae Jepsen show, he writes with a poignancy and magnetism that resonates profoundly.

In the wake of the nightclub attacks in Paris, he recalls how he sought refuge as a teenager in music, at shows, and wonders whether the next generation of young Muslims will not be afforded that opportunity now. While discussing the everyday threat to the lives of Black Americans, Abdurraqib recounts the first time he was ordered to the ground by police officers: for attempting to enter his own car.

In essays that have been published by the New York Times, MTV, and Pitchfork, among others—along with original, previously unreleased essays—Abdurraqib uses music and culture as a lens through which to view our world, so that we might better understand ourselves, and in so doing proves himself a bellwether for our times.

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That Eric Alper
6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week, a 16-time JUNO Award winner overseeing PR campaigns, and have also been truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

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